TEHRAN – Russia’s deputy foreign minister has called on the international community to give Tehran a chance to participate in efforts to end the crisis in Syria.

Moscow is confident that the Islamic Republic of Iran “can and must play a positive role” in finding a political way to resolve the conflict in Syria, Gennady Gatilov told reporters on Thursday, RT reported.

“We think it unacceptable to ignore Tehran’s potential,” he said. “We spoke about (Iran’s participation) before the first meeting in Geneva.”

“We should involve the Iranians rather than isolate them. They are an important element in the architecture of regional security,” Gatilov said. “Moreover, we have a strong impression that Iran is ready to make a constructive contribution to resolving the crisis.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's foes are bent on overthrowing his government and called their "obsession" with this goal an insurmountable obstacle to peace.

"Everything runs up against opposition members' obsession with the idea of the overthrow of the Assad regime. As long as this irreconcilable position remains in force, nothing good will happen - armed action will continue, people will die," Lavrov said, according to Reuters.

EP/PA

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